Delhi has reported 23,645 coronavirus cases so far.
Private hospitals in the city that are unable to reserve 20% beds for treatment of Covid-19 patients will be converted fully into Covid hospitals, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Thursday. At present, five government hospitals and three private hospitals are functioning as complete Covid-19 facilities.
“There are a few private hospitals which are facing difficulties in reserving 20% of their bed capacity for Covid-19 patients. If they do not agree to the Delhi government’s direction…, we will have to convert them into fully dedicated Covid hospitals,” he said.
The government has directed 61 private hospitals, with a capacity of 70 or more beds, to earmark 20% of their beds for Covid-19 patients and has given them a day’s time to take a decision. “They have time till tomorrow,” said the Deputy CM.
Three more private hospitals — Sir Ganga Ram, Moolchand and Saroj Super Speciality — were declared Covid hospitals by the government Wednesday.
The hospitals are functioning on concessional land and, as per officials, are obliged to provide 10% IPD and 25% OPD services to EWS patients free of charge. Each hospital will be reserving 25% of the total bed capacity for EWS Covid patients, and the treatment will be free of cost.
Last month, the Delhi government had ordered 117 private hospitals and nursing homes, with 50 or more beds, to reserve 20% beds for Covid patients. Several nursing homes in the city have aired apprehensions over the mixing of Covid and non-Covid patients.
“This is not a long-term solution. Non-Covid patients will suffer as most of the hospitals will start providing treatment to Covid-19 patients… While providing treatment to Covid-19 patients, we should not forget about a large number of patients suffering from heart ailments, cancer and other comorbidities,” said Dr Ajey Bedi, secretary, Delhi Medical Association (DMA).
The Delhi government has also issued an order to private hospitals in the city to reserve beds for the treatment of EWS patients infected with Covid-19. The government has asked 42 hospitals with 50 and more beds to send a compliance report in three days, failing which action will be initiated against the hospital.